It’s the time of the year again! Summer is already here. You may be planning to have a memorable beach escapade with your family or group of friends.
However, you can’t choose which is better between Miramar Beach and Destin.
This post tackles Miramar beach vs. Destin: which is better. This will give you an idea of which of the two beach destinations will provide you with the most memorable summer experience.
So, if you want to know more about it, keep on reading.
What You Need To Know About Miramar Beach
Miramar Beach is considered everyone’s childhood town as it will give you the nostalgia of solemn waves touching your feet.
Many tourists love visiting the area because of the childhood memories it provides them.
Aside from being one of the best beaches in the South Walton neighborhood, there are other reasons why it became a popular travel destination among families and groups of friends.
Miramar Beach is also the home of beachside condominiums and resorts with a 360-degree view of the Gulf of Mexico.
Beyond that, it is also known for the applauding beachfront homes, excellent restaurants, fabulous surf shops, and accessible beach roads.
But did you know that Miramar Beach does not only give you the nostalgic beach vibe?
The area also offers ultra-modern activities and amenities that will provide fun to anyone. You can spend your whole weekend vacation trying their parasailing and jet ski rentals.
Moreover, you will also enjoy their unlimited shopping opportunities in one of the leading designer outlets, such as the Silver Sands Premium.
How Crowded is Miramar Beach?
Miramar Beach is located near Destin, which is a much larger city. So, many expect that it is the least busy beach with a typical beach vacation vibe.
If you plan to visit Miramar Beach, the first thing that may come to mind is whether the area is busy.
\Compared to other beaches in the South Walton neighborhood, Miramar beach is the least active. However, there are specific months when it is a little crowded.
If you want to have a peaceful vacation in Miramar Beach with fewer people, visiting the area during November is best.
It is the least busy month in the area, which means you are more likely to spend less.
On the other hand, June, July, and May are the busiest months in Miramar Beach, Florida.
According to statistics, June is the busiest month in Miramar beach with 100% capacity, followed by July with above 80% capacity, and May with 70% capacity.
Public Access At Miramar Beach
Public access is becoming an increasing issue on most beaches these days.
Many tourists and even locals want to have an extraordinary beach experience without worrying about public access.
However, security concerns and limited parking make accessing the beach tricky.
Fortunately, Miramar Beach offers several public accesses. Anyone who wants to have an incredible beach vacation can access the area worry-free.
Here are some of the public accesses offered by Miramar Beach.
- Miramar Beach
- Geronimo Street
- Sand Trap Road
- Open Gulf Street
- Norwood Drive
Things To Do At Miramar Beach
At Mirimar Beach, you can enjoy the beautiful ocean views, go for a swim, or relax on the beach chairs.
You can also visit the town of Miramar, where you can find various shops and restaurants.
There’s also the Miramar Beach Club, which is a great place to have fun with your friends. You can play volleyball, soccer, mini-golf, or go for a swim in the swimming pool.
In other words, there are a lot of things you can enjoy in Miramar Beach with your favorite people. Here are some of them:
Enjoy The Emeraldd Coast!
Miramar is one of the most pristine destinations in the world. So, once you get the chance to visit the area, the best thing you can do is walk through its gorgeous sand and swim through its crystal-clear water.
If you are fond of soaking in water, then this is the best destination you can visit.
You can go down to the beach, picnic with your loved ones, go swimming, or do different water sports with the other tourists.
The Zoo Gallery
Another destination in Miramar Beach that you may want to try with your loved ones is the Zoo Gallery.
This is located on the Grand Boulevard, where you can find a variety of handcrafted items and unique artwork that will amaze you.
Each corner of the place displays stunning artworks made by international and local artists.
The Zoo Gallery was established in 1979. Since then, it has stood out as one of the most popular galleries you can visit in Miramar Beach.
This is the best place to go if you are searching for some souvenirs, like housewares, fine art, accessories, and ceramics you can take home.
The Gulf Coast Axe House
Let’s say it’s your last day in Miramar Beach, and you are looking for a great place to visit.
One area we can recommend to you is the Gulf Coast Axehouse, where instructors can teach beginners how to throw axes using the proper method.
This can be the best place for a casual anniversary date with your partner. Aside from throwing axes, you can also enjoy the food and drinks they offer.
However, you can also bring your wine and beer if you prefer not to buy them.
What You Need To Know About Destin
If you searched for the world’s top beach destinations on Google, most search results would include Destin.
Destin is a well-known beach area in Florida situated between Panama City Beach and Pensacola.
Compared to Miramar Beach, which will give you a nostalgic childhood vibe, this one is more on the modern coastal real estate view.
Aside from standard surfing and fishing activities, Destin is also a home for world-class dining and entertainment options.
Thus, this became one of the top pick getaways among single persons, couples, families, and groups of friends.
At first glance, Destin may look like a kid’s playground, but this is a haven for sportspersons. Many locals consider it The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.
Did you know that the area’s history can be traced back to the 7th century?
How Crowded is Destin?
Destin is a much larger beach area than Miramar Beach. Because of its popularity among tourists and beach lovers around the world, it is undoubtedly one of the busiest beach vacation sites.
In line with that, you may want to visit the area during its least busy days.
If you want to avoid the crowd and enjoy the beauty and tranquility of Destin peacefully, we recommend you visit the place in May or during the late summer season.
Aside from having the least visitors, visiting the area in the late summer months will enable you to enjoy the place and other activities at a much more inexpensive rate.
If you want to adore the beauty of the waves touching the shore with little too people, you may wish to visit Destin during the winter and fall seasons.
Public Access To Destin Beaches
Destin offers you more public access points than Miramar Beach. This means that you have many options to access the area without any hassle.
Here are some of the most notable public access points at Destin:
- June White Decker Public Beach Park
- Calhoun Beach Access
- Osteen Public Beach Access
- Norriego Point
- Henderson Beach State Park
- Silver Shells Beach Public Access
- Shirah Street Access
- The Shores at Crystal Beach Access
- Crystal Beach Drive Access
- Barracuda Street Beach Access
- Tarpon Street Beach Access
- Pompano Street Beach Access
- James Lee Park Okaloosa County
Things To Do in Destin
But the area is much more than just a great place to take a vacation.
In fact, there are plenty of things to do in Destin, whether you’re interested in exploring the area’s history, culture, and nature, or you want to enjoy some of the area’s best outdoor activities.
Here are some of the ideas you can do during your stay in Destin:
Henderson Beach State Park
One of the first things you may want to do when you reach Destin is to visit its beaches.
On the other hand, you also want to ensure that you will have one of the best and most memorable experiences in the area possible.
Thus, we highly recommend you visit Henderson Beach State Park. This is one of the best attractions in the area that will be appealing kids to adults.
Moreover, Henderson Beach State Park is the perfect place to do outdoor recreations with your loved ones.
This place is located near the Gulf of Mexico. Therefore, there is no doubt why Henderson Beach State Park is considered one of the most appealing areas in Destin.
The park allows you to do several things: lye under the sand, swim with the fish, and even go snorkeling.
Big Kahuna’s Water Park
Big Kahuna’s Water Park is one of the most prominent destinations in Destin. It is the home of some of the most thrilling activities.
This attraction is situated in the center of Destin and is accessible by public transportation. In fact, anyone can walk through it from their hotels and condos.
Once you are in the park, you will be welcomed with endless activities perfect for adults and toddlers.
Some of the activities you can experience here include splash pads, slides, and water rides.
On the other hand, you can also enjoy thrilling rides, mini-golf, and karts outside the water park.
Dolphin Sunset Cruise
When you are in Destin, part of you would like to visit the Dolphin Cruise.
This is the best city in Destin that will give you a free dolphin viewing frolicking in their natural habitat.
You will definitely be taking multiple videos and pictures during your whole stay on the Dolphin Sunset cruise.
Some dolphins may also swim closer to your boat if you are lucky enough.
Seeing them in the closest proximity possible is one of the ideal experiences you could have.
It is worth noting that the boat will only stay on the water for a maximum of two hours.
So, ensure to take hundreds of photos to preserve the memory.
Gator Beach
After your dolphin interaction, the next thing you may want to do is to watch alligators. If you are looking for the best alligator park in Destin, you will never go wrong with Gator Beach.
This is one of the places in Destin that will give you the most fun.
Aside from adoring the alligators, you can also make your visit to this park a culinary experience.
If you dine in at the Fudpucker’s Beachside Bar and Grill, you will have the chance to wander at the Gator Beach park for free.
Aside from that, you can also ask the caretakers to teach you how to feed these fearsome alligators.
On the other hand, you can also watch entertaining shows or visit the Gator Museum to learn more about the alligators in the area.
So, Which is Better: Destin or Miramar Beach?
With the information presented above, we can say that Destin is a better place to go than Miramar Beach when looking for a beach destination.
The area offers several public access points. Beyond that, you can also try different activities in the area.
The beach at Destin is better than Miramar Beach. The water is clearer, the sand is finer, the water is warmer, and the waves are larger.
There are also more things to do at Destin than at Miramar Beach, so you’re not stuck inside the hotels the whole time.
Not only that but the restaurants and bars at Destin are way better than Miramar Beach, too.
But this does not mean that Miramar Beach is a less appealing destination to visit.
The area also offers visitors an extraordinary experience with crystal-clear and pristine sand. So, what are you waiting for? Pack your clothes now and fly to these prestigious beaches in the world.
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